Galveston Water Works | Quenching Galveston's Thirst: A Look at the Island's Fresh Water System

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Galveston's water supply has a fascinating history, from collecting rainwater to drilling deep wells for fresh drinking water. The city established its own water system in 1870 to combat the threat of diseases like yellow fever. Artesian wells were drilled on the mainland to provide 2 million gallons of water daily for the island. In 1895, the Alta Loma Water system was built with 30 wells, a 30-inch water main, and a 152-foot standpipe that held over 500,000 gallons of water. Although the waterworks facility was destroyed in the 1900 storm, the standpipe survived and still stands today, reminding us of Galveston's remarkable achievements in providing safe drinking water to its citizens.